
before them, and may, if they will, die in hope of eternal life, which is a very
great pre-eminence over the rest of the animal creation."—"Bible
Readings,"
p. 507.
THE NATURE OF DEATH
7.
At death to whom does-the breath of life return? Eccl. 12:7.
NoTE.—"That is, the spirit of life by which man lives, and which is only
lent him of God, at death goes back to the great Author of life. Having come
from Him, it belongs to God, and man can have it eternally only as a gift
from God, through Jesus Christ. Rom. 6:23. When the spirit goes back to
God, the dust, from which man was made a 'living soul' in the beginning, goes
back
as it was,
to the earth, and the individual no longer exists as a living,
conscious, thinking being, except as he exists in the mind, plan, and purpose
of God through Christ and the resurrection. In this sense 'all live unto Him'
(Luke 20:38), for all are to be raised from the dead. See John 5:28, 29;
Acts 24:15; Rom. 4:17
."—"Bible Readings,"
p. 507.
8.
How is death spoken of by the apostle? 1 Thess. 4:13.
9.
Under what circumstances did Christ use similar words? John
11:11-14.
10.
Where do the dead sleep? Dan. 12:2; Job 17:13.
11.
What relation do the dead sustain to the present world? Ps. 146:
4; Eccl. 9:5, 6; Job 14:12, 21.
NoTE.—"If one continued in consciousness after death, he would know of
the promotion or dishonor of his sons. But Job says he does not know this.
Not only so, but in death one loses all the attributes of mind,—love, hatred,
envy, etc. Thus it is plain that his thoughts have perished, and that he can
have nothing more to do with the things of this world. But if, as taught and
held by some, man's powers of thought continue after death, he
lives;
and if
he lives, he must be
somewhere.
Where is he? Is he in heaven, or in hell?
If he goes to either place at death, what then is the need of a future judgment,
or of a resurrection, or of the second coming of Christ? If the judgment does
not take place at death, but men go to their reward at death, then their
rewards
precede their
awards,
and there would arise the possibility that some
have at death gone to the wrong place, and must needs be sent to the other,
after having been in bliss or torment for ages, perhaps."—"Bible
Readings,"
p. 512.
12.
In whom alone is there hope for the righteous dead? John 11:25,
26; Col. 3:3, 4.
13.
To whom only is the hope of a resurrection and eternal life pos-
sible? Rom. 2:7.
14.
How and when will the righteous realize the fulfillment of this
hope? 1 Thess. 4:14-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-55.
NoTE.—Beyond the fondest hopes of the human heart, more glorious than
the human mind can conceive, grander than faith has ever been able to
picture or human language to express, is God's plan and His provision for the
faithful. Sin brought death in its train, but Christ brought life and immor-
tality to light; He, the resurrection and the life, has for His loyal ones, a
future, immortal existence which will banish forever the memory of sin,
f3)